Angels take wait-and-see approach on injured Howie Kendrick

ANAHEIM >> An MRI on Howie Kendrick‘s left knee Tuesday revealed a bone bruise and no structural damage, and the Angels will wait until the weekend before deciding whether or not to put the second baseman on the disabled list.

“We’ll give him about four or five days to see how it progresses,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “Obviously he’s very, very sore and very stiff, but we’ll give it a couple days to play out.”

The Angels recalled Grant Green from Triple-A Salt Lake, and the rookie made his Angels debut at second base against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, batting eighth.

Chris Nelson and Tommy Field can also play the position, and those will be the Angels’ options until a decision is rendered on Kendrick.

Scioscia said that Kendrick will travel with the team on their seven-game road trip to Cleveland and New York starting Friday.

Kendrick hyperextended his left knee colliding with Collin Cowgill in Monday night’s 5-2 loss to the Rangers. He limped off the field with assistance from two athletic trainers and was in crutches after the game.

Blanton shines in ’pen

The Angels initially tried Joe Blanton as a starting pitcher this season, but that seemingly safe experiment ended after 20 starts. Blanton went 2-13, which remains the most losses in the American League.

A funny thing happened when Blanton was bumped from the rotation last month: He started pitching really well. In six relief innings since, the right-hander has retired 18 of the 19 batters he faced.

Unlike some relievers, Blanton wasn’t fazed by going seven days between appearances, pitching three perfect innings Monday night against the Texas Rangers.

Considering Blanton didn’t pitch a 1-2-3 inning in 2013 until May 2 — his sixth start of the season — that was no small feat. Blanton looks like he’s found his niche.

Not so fast, Scioscia said.

“There’s always an opportunity for Joe to get back in our rotation,” the manager said. “I don’t think a good role in the ’pen is going to limit him from doing that.”

But a healthy and productive starting five might.

Jason Vargas will pitch a rehab game Thursday for Triple-A Salt Lake and could be back in the Angels’ rotation “in the next week to 10 days.” At that point, he’ll bump one of the current five pitchers, leaving even less room for Blanton.

“It’s just going to be where our rotation is and what our needs are,” Scioscia said.

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Notable

Pitcher Sean Burnett will have season-ending elbow surgery today with Dr. James Andrews, as expected. The left-hander is expected to be ready for spring training next season. … Scioscia said that Mark Trumbo took a ground took a ground ball off his right ring finger Monday while playing the field in the Angels 5-2 loss to Texas. Trumbo was limited to designated hitter duties Tuesday and Kole Calhoun started at first base. … Center fielder Peter Bourjos will begin a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday and is expected to need up to a week to come back from a fractured right wrist.